Apparatus for indicating locus of an ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating locus of an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves toward a part of a subject wherein a position or movement of the ultrasonic probe is detected, and a locus of the ultrasonic probe on an image of the part of the subject is indicated according to the detected position or movement.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
 an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves toward a part of a subject during scanning movement of the ultrasonic probe across an external body surface of the subject; 
 processing circuitry configured to detect time-series positions of the ultrasonic probe which contacts the external body surface while scanning the part of the subject; 
 a locus region generator configured to generate a locus region two-dimensionally representing a region scanned by the ultrasonic probe within a predetermined entire region represented as a body mark; 
 a memory to store the locus region; and 
 a controller configured to cause a display to display a surface map that includes the locus region stored in the memory. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mark generator configured to generate the body mark indicating the part of the subject; and 
 a display processor configured to display the ultrasonic image and the body mark, wherein 
 the controller controls the display processor to display the locus region, superimposed on the body mark. 
 
     
     
       3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate a probe mark indicating a position of the ultrasonic probe according to the time-series positions detected by the processing circuitry; and 
 the display processor is configured to display the probe mark superimposed on the body mark. 
 
     
     
       4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor configured to detect a direction and displacement of the ultrasonic probe. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to start generation of the locus region when contact of the ultrasonic probe with the body surface of the subject is detected. 
 
     
     
       6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a manual switch provided on the ultrasonic probe, 
 wherein the controller is configured to start generation of the locus region according to operating of the manual switch. 
 
     
     
       7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foot switch configured to be operated by a foot of the operator, 
 wherein the controller is configured to start generation of the locus region according to operating of the foot switch. 
 
     
     
       8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the controller causes the display processor to display the locus region indicating a time passage from start time of generation of the locus region by a change of color tone or shading. 
 
     
     
       9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the controller causes the display processor to display the locus region, indicating moving speed of the probe by a change of color tone or shading. 
 
     
     
       10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate a scan plane mark indicating imaged region at a present time, wherein 
 the display processor is configured to display the scan plane mark with the probe mark. 
 
     
     
       11. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate the scan plane mark according to a depth of the ultrasonic image set in the signal processor. 
 
     
     
       12. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate the scan plane mark according to an aperture of a scanned range set in the signal processor. 
 
     
     
       13. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate the scan plane mark according to what kind of the ultrasonic probe is being used. 
 
     
     
       14. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate a lattice pattern, a scaled axis or a dots pattern to be superimposed on the body mark. 
 
     
     
       15. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the mark generator is configured to generate a three dimensional body mark for indicating a three dimensional form of the subject; and 
 the controller is configured to indicate a three dimensional locus by changing at least one of brightness, color and transparency of a region of the subject already imaged. 
 
     
     
       16. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an operation panel configured so that the operator can assign a point to the ultrasonic image, wherein 
 the controller is further configured to control the memory to store positional coordinates of the point assigned by the operation panel on the basis of the position detected by the processing circuitry; and 
 the display is further configured to indicate the positional coordinates.